To want to burn our puppy poo garden

[alwaysalwayssomething]

We got a tiny puppy a month ago - first dog, two smitten children, both under ten. We have a decent garden - the puppy wees at the side but has been pooing randomly in the garden and we just pick it up immediately.

Which I now realise was totally stupid as this is where the children play every day and now there are probably all sorts of nasties in the grass now just from the poo being there. I made a mistake of googling this and almost vomited reading things like worms lasting years in the soil that can cause blindness etc.

Full disclosure that I have severe OCD - ironically my therapist recommended the dog as helping from an exposure perspective. Instead, I now just want the kids to stay out of the garden for the next two years!

Can anyone please talk me down and / or give me some advice on whether this is a relative normal concern or just pure OCD? Even a handhold would be great. Thanks very much!

This is your OCD looking for reassurance.
So I'm not going to give you any, because you know it doesn't help long term. There is no certainty and with OCD we have to lean into that and accept it. I know it's easier said than done, it's hard.

I'd really recommend fighting the compulsions to Google/Reddit/Mumsnet reassure seeking.

Long term I think dog owning will be fantastic for you ( full on exposure therapy 😅)
Really wishing you well OP and I hope you begin to really enjoy the dog experience.

Massive hugs 🤗

Lol at antibacterial treatment for real grass 🤣🤣🤣

@Jojimoji you’re right, there is no reassurance and google is not my friend. I’m going to try and see my GP this week about upping my meds as this thread has been so useful on a barometer on what is ‘normal’.

If it reassures the OP then why is that funny? She’s obviously quite stressed.

We hose area down after poo. We use some washing up liquid that doesn't affect the grass. Dog wee also, as it causes yellow patches. I think you can buy special dog waste cleanser for lawns.

Why do you think young puppies would be worse?

I think it's good to prove it with your own dog going in a particular spot in the garden, but I'm afraid you're being very silly not to let your children play in the garden, they play out everywhere else and the chances of them getting ill from anything in your garden is tiny. Keep your own dog wormed and just get on with life this is why getting a dog was suggested not so you could keep your kids in the house!!

Because OCD doesn't work like that. U can't anti back a living lawn. That will feed an anxiety and then OP will be going to further and further lengths to 'decontaminate' a living lawn. You can't make a living plant free of bacteria.

Oh, hadn't thought of that?

@alwaysalwayssomething was that you??

Not sure it was I think the age of the children are very different, that could be 'tweaked' for posting?!

If it wasn't you, I wonder what the other woman decided to do??

What a lovely post, acknowledging the helpful MN people.
I had been about to spout all sorts of reassuring crap, but not needed now - enjoy your puppy and accept your children will be rolling in all sorts in the garden, at parks, in a swimming pool..... its normal, and on the whole, healthy🙂

Immediate pick up, no contamination. Your kids will be fine. Once your puppy can go for walks, it will poo elsewhere - obvs, you'll still pick up, but it won't have the same worrying effect. If you keep your dog wormed (though don't overdo it, follow the vet's advice) - your kids will be fine.

OP - it's all the OCD. Dog owners without OCD pick up the dog poo in their gardens and give no further thought to it.

Oh OP every outside grassy area you or your kids walk on, sit on and play on will have been pooed or weed on by dogs, cats and other wild animals.

Hope you are feeling reassured OP.
Just as a note you don't need a vet to test for worms. I have used a site called www.wormcount.com
You send them a poo sample you get get an e mail listing types of worms and if any are present in your dog's sample.
I'm not saying it's needed, especially if pup is regularly wormed but it might be useful to someone.

@Isobel201 no but in my head the garden is contaminated now, doggo or not

I have never restricted my children from playing in the garden and yes, the dog poos there. This isn't something to be getting worked up about.

An update as so many were good to provide reassurance .Out early with the dog and there was a non-dog poo in the garden. As divine intervention is unlikely, you are all right and there is probably lots of poo there. I just didn’t notice or care or think about it much.

Will go to B&Q today and fence off a dog area. Will also go back to my GP.

@Floatlikeafeather2 sending best wishes and hope that your cousin found treatment that improved. It’s so hard.